29. 29

29

Edie

I want to stay with Kalle.

I want to stay with him so much , just curl up with him and do what I can to make his pain and worry and fear go away.

I can tell by his eyes that he's terrified.

But I can't, because there are things to be done and I'm in a position to do them for the family.

I have to leave, but my heart stays with him.

After I give Lyra another tight hug and say goodbye, fighting the urge to throw myself into Kalle's arms, Spencer walks me to the exit by the emergency room.

There's a handful of people waiting, with injuries bad enough to make the drive in through the storm.

"Thanks for coming," Spencer says as the sliding door opens to let in a burst of cool air. "Lyra needs…" He trails off, looking too concerned for just a friend of the family.

"There are a lot of men in her life," I say. "You should get back to her."

"I wanted to ask you about Kalle. "

I glance at Spencer; Spencer who is like the fifth brother, close to all and the family's main defender. Spencer is one of Kalle's best friends, but he's coming to me for news on him.

And I know exactly what he's about to ask me. "I don't know," I admit.

Spencer huffs. "Has he said anything about abdicating?"

"No, but he hasn't said anything about not abdicating either. You should know that as well as I do."

"I didn't know if he's said anything about it. He's really freaked out, Edie, and I worry this might push him over if he's sitting on the edge."

"He's freaking because he's terrified. He might be about to lose his father and his life as he knows it. Privacy, a personal life, probably his bar—of course he's freaking out."

"I need to make sure things are running, even with something like this."

"I know, and you're very good at your job. But you've got some time, Spencer, so go be a friend to them. And be there for your father."

He nods. "You're good for this family, you know."

I smile tightly. "Keep me posted, please."

I call Kate on the way back to the bar, driving slowly through the streets, debris from the storm making the trip more treacherous than usual. Between us, we come up with a statement for Spencer to give to the press whenever they decide to do so, vague and as positive as we can make it. Kate asks if I think we should come up with something in the event of the king's death, whispering the question like it's treason to even think about it .

Once back in the bar, I can't say anything about where I've been, what has happened, because one slip of the tongue, and the whole town will hear about King Magnus being in the hospital within hours.

Sophie and Fenella have gone; they had looked concerned when Mathias left, or at least Sophie had. Fenella had smiled.

Everything about Mathias flew out of my head when Stella called.

Mathias… he was headed back to the castle. I wonder if he knows about the king.

I wonder if he cares for the right reason.

He's no longer any concern of mine. As long as he stays away from Kalle—and now Fenella, as I've tucked her under my protection somehow—I want nothing more to do with him.

He wanted to rescue me? Dude— My life is better than his royal reality will ever be. Especially now that Kalle—

I keep my phone in my back pocket, waiting for the call that might change everything.

No one calls at midnight; one o'clock passes with no word. I ring the last call bell just before two, and the few diehards that are still there file out so that I close a few minutes after two.

As I clean up, I try to decide if I should go back to the hospital or wait at my apartment.

My apartment, where I woke up with Kalle this morning. And I can't help but wonder what this will mean for us.

I shouldn't think about an us. The king is in the hospital, Kalle's future uncertain, and I'm wondering if this means Kalle's not going to kiss me.

What is wrong with me ?

My phone ringing from the back pocket of my jeans sends my heartbeat racing as I fumble for it. "Hello," I say breathlessly.

"He's okay." It's Kalle, his voice husky.

I close my eyes and lean against the closest wall. "Oh, thank god."

"Yeah. They removed his appendix. He might have sepsis—I don't know what that is—so they're giving him antibiotics."

"I'll find out for you."

"He'll be here for a couple of days, but they're sending us home. Duncan is going to stay the rest of the night with him, in case Dad wakes up."

"That's good."

"I'm going back to the castle," he says.

"You want to stay together." I nod, disappointment flooding me because I won't see him, even as I nod.

"Are you okay to drive up?"

My heart trips at the question. Not so much the words, but how he says it.

Like I'm expected to be there with him. I haven't been inside the castle since I was eighteen years old and Kalle left to play baseball.

"Are you sure?" I whisper. "Shouldn't it be—?"

"Family. That's you. Please."

I close my eyes, smiling, even with the drama of the night. "Of course. I'll see you soon."

"Drive safe."

I end the call, happy for the king and…

Happy for me.